nationalsecuritylaw United States v. Corkins (D.D.C.)

From DOJ’s press release:

VIRGINIA MAN INDICTED ON ADDITIONAL CHARGES,

INCLUDING A D.C. TERRORISM OFFENSE,

IN SHOOTING OF SECURITY GUARD AT FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment against Floyd Lee Corkins II, charging him with several new offenses, including a District of Columbia charge of committing an act of terrorism, in the shooting last summer of a security guard at the Family Research Council.

The superseding indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Corkins, 28, of Herndon, Va., has been in custody since his arrest soon after the Aug. 15, 2012, shooting. He initially was indicted a week later, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, for the federal offense of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, along with the District of Columbia offenses of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.

The superseding indictment incorporates the three previously filed charges and adds seven District of Columbia offenses, including one count each of committing an act of terrorism while armed, attempted murder while armed, aggravated assault while armed and second-degree burglary while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

This marks the first time that a defendant has been charged with committing an act of terrorism under the District of Columbia’s Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002. The law’s definitions of terrorism include an act or actions committed with the intent to “intimidate or coerce a significant portion of the civilian population of the District of Columbia or the United States.” The charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 15, 2012, at about 10:45 a.m., the defendant entered the office of the Family Research Council, at 801 G Street NW, and encountered an unarmed security guard. The defendant retrieved a firearm from his backpack, pointed it at the security guard, and opened fire, striking the guard in the arm. After being wounded, the security guard wrestled the firearm away from the defendant and subdued him.

Corkins is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, before the Honorable Richard W. Roberts.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director McJunkin and Chief Lanier expressed their appreciation to all those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the MPD. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Patrick Martin and Ann Petalas of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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